Two-speed driving-gear for bicycles.



No. 698,l32. Patented Apr. 22', 1902;:

w.yu. PALMER.

TWO SPEED DRIVING GEAR FOR BIGYGLES.

I A umio filed m 7, 1900.)

(No ModoL) Q 2 Shouts-Sheet I.

mvsrrroa Patented Apr. 22, I902.

(Application filed May 7.1900.)

2 Sheets-sheaf 2. 3

(No Model.)

. gitudinal section of same; Fig. 4, a side elevation of spindle; Fig. 5, a'transverse section; Fig. 8, a plan of Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a side tion."

. ing therewith. The sleeve K is forced or stead of by a lever or screw, as formerly, and

UNITED STATES \VILLIAM HENRY PALMER,

TWO-SPEED DRIVING- SEECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Application filed May 7, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY PAL- MER, engineer, a British subject, and a residentof Middleton, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Two-Speed Driving- Gear for Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to. improvements in the two-speed driving-gear for bicycles described in the specification of Reilly and Haig'hs patent, No. 588,657, dated the 24th of August, 1897, parts of which may also be applied to free-wheel geaix. We now constructv the apparatus so that the-sliding clutch or sleeve by which the gear is altered may be drawn back by admin or flexible band inwe also provide that the central pinion cannot be jammed by thecono or nut on the spindle end.

The improvements will be fully described with reference to the accom panying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of bicycle,showing the invention applied thereto3'Fig. 2, an elevation of hub of driving-wheel; Fig. 3, a lontion on line y y, Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a transverse section on line a .cr, Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a side elevation of lever, cross-section, in one posielevation of same in another position; Fig. 10, a side elevation of-same in a third posi- The gearing is constructed as described in the specification of the previous patent, No. 588,657, dated August 24, 1897, with a sprocket driving-wheel A,with internal teeth a, the intermediary driving-pinions B, and the central rotating pinion D; also, thehub pinion D, and teeth 70 to engage withthe internal teeth Won the hub. The sleeveK slides toand fro on the central spindle E over the teeth 6, the internal teeth 70 engagmoved in one direction and held in its normal position by the spring M. A second or inner sleeve K is placed inside the sleeve K,

OF MIDDLETON, ENGLAND.

GEAR FOR slovorss.

Patept a... 698,132,dated April 22, 1902. saw No. 15,781. (No model.)

with a buifer-springm, to make an elastic l attachment between the operating-rod L and the movable sleeve K. E is made hollow or tubular, preferably from end to end, and is internally provided with an operating-rod L sliding therein and fitted with a cross-head Z. The cross-bar l projects The central spindle 5 through slits l in the spindle E and the ends engage the inner sleeve K. The operatingrod L has at one end attached to it a chain N, which extends out through the end of the hollow spindle E. By this chain the rod Lis drawn back againstthe pressure of the and the cones P are screwed internally to cor&

respond. The cones when in position can be screwed against the shoulders 6', thereby preventing the cone P at the gear end of the hub being tightly screwed against the central pin ion D, this pinion being of such a length as not to project beyond'the shoulder.

Upon the'screwed 'end'of the spindle E,

through which the chain or flexible band N I passes, is fitted a not B, with abell or trumpet shaped mouth, curved,-rounded, or other-wise beveled, which projects over the screwed end of the spindle." This construction'of nut provides a bearing-surface over which the chain o- 5 or flexible band N can slide or movewithbut little friction when pulledat an angle'at right angles to the axis of thespindle. OnItheother end of the spindleE a nut R'in the "form of a capv isfitted- A precisely similar arrangement of chain or flexible band and nut and sliding 'sleeve'or clutch may be employed for a free-wheel movement without the epicyclictrain of wheels forming the two-speed mechanism; The flexible chain N is connectedto the flexible wire rope N, and the rope N is at tached to an operating-lever O, fitted to'top; bar or other convenient part of the cycle frame. The lever O is provided with a sector 0' and catch 0,,by which it is held in the desired position. (See Figs. 7 to 10.)

G, H, and II are the balls for the ball-bearings.

Nhat I claim as my invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a two-speed driving-gear for cycles an inner sleeve K placed inside the sliding toothed sleeve K to act as a buffer against the crossbar Z and abu ffer-springm placed thereon in combination with the hollow sliding sleeve K, the inner pinion D, the hub 0, pinions B, sprocket-wheel A, hollow spindle E, operating-rod L and cross-bar Z inside the spindle, the spring M in the spindle, the chain N attached to the rod L, the retaining-nut R with rounded edges on the end of the spindle to permit of the free movement of the chain N substantially as described.

2. In a two'speed driving-gear for cycles, an inner sleeve K placed inside the sliding toothed sleeve K to act as a buffer against the cross-bar Z, a buffer-spring m placed thereon and a retaining-nut R with rounded edges placed over the end of the spindle to permit of the free movement of the chain N therein in combination with the hollow sliding sleeve K, the inner pinion D, the hub c, pinions B, sprocket-wheel A, hollow spindle E, operating-rod L, and cross-bar Zinside the spindle, the spring M on the spindle, the chain N attached to the rod L, the flexible band N connected to the chain, the operating-lever O attached to the frame, the sector 0 and the catch 0 to retain the leverin position substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 23d day of April, 1900.

WILLIAM HENRY PALMER.

'Witnesses:

J. OWDEN OBRIEN, B. TATHAM VVOODHEAD. 

